Cheap or free summer activities

City programs or a YMCA program will be your cheapest bets.

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 6 and 2.

The city has great classes! I live in Peoria and their swim lessons are only $15 every 2 weeks. And their mommy and me classes I think run about $45. Most cities offer some of the same things.

City classes usually have several 'mommy & me' classes that are relatively inexpensive. Look up your local cities class schedule - I'm positive you will find some there. I know they have swimming because I looked into that several years back. Good luck with that all!

LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 7 months and 3 years old.

Do a tour of public parks and playgrounds. Run through the sprinkler. Play in the dirt. Hang a tire swing.

It's not a generally accepted idea, but it doesn't cost money to have fun.

I know you're aware of these, but I love the mall play areas. Also, you could try Jeepers in Mesa. It costs money for the rides and food, but there's a free play area for the little ones. You may also consider joining the AZ Museum for Youth or another place like that. You will pay up front, but then you could go all summer without paying more.

Hobbymommy, 38, is a discussion leader from Mesa. She is a happy stay-at-home mommy to a 3-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son.

When I signed up my daughter for swim lessons at the Y (we were not paying members), I expected to pay the $75 cost...but was told, "nope, all classes are free this month - sponsored by Fulton Homes." For the next 3 times we signed up for a session at the Y, we signed up under the Fulton Homes sponsorship program and went for free!
It was available to anyone.

Worth asking.

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 6 yr. old daughter and a 4 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

Story time at your local library. I can't say enough about these. I recently started working full time and am so sad I can't take our son anymore. We went practically every week for the time he as 9 months to almost 4 years old.

Patricia is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com. She and her husband live in Phoenix and are raising a 4-year-old son they adopted as an infant.

CHeck out you public library - they have reading programs for all ages and prizes. My kids (teens included) read for the tempe, mesa and AJ library rading programs.
Borders also has a reading program and a story time.
Check out that bread resturant/store in the chandler mall (can't remember the name of it) it has a weekly craft program. The kids get to do a craft and get cookies and milk.
There is a play area in that mall too.
Tempe town lakes is free for kids...get a friend who has kids the same age to carpool with you and bring a picnic lunch
A few kids museums have free sundays or saturdays
Checkout your McDs if they still have those summer coupon sheets (12 coupons for 1.00).
Remember Sonic has 1/2 priced drinks from 2 - 4/ M-F
Chandler park has a train (??cost) and I think a water park too
Michaels kids craft day in the week - I think free or 1.00
Get your friends together for playdates at each others house- everyone takes turns hosting - do it after breakfast but end before lunch and everyone brings their own snacks and drinks
Mud day in scottsdale in june or july
swimming at the pool - if you have a friend who has a pool offer to bring some snacks and you can have a swim play date